System and Method for Provisioning Connections as a Distributed Digital Cross-Connect Over a Packet Network

ABSTRACT

A method includes receiving a request to provision a path associated with at least a portion of a packet network and determining whether a router is associated with the path in the packet network. The method also includes provisioning a first connection between a first gateway and a second gateway when the router is not associated with the path. The method further includes provisioning a second connection between the first gateway and the router and a third connection between the router and the second gateway when the router is associated with the path. In addition, the method includes at least one of associating and disassociating a first endpoint of the first gateway and a second endpoint of the second gateway with one or more of the connections.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to communication systems, and moreparticularly to a system and method for provisioning a connection as adistributed digital cross-connect in a packet network.

BACKGROUND

A typical packet-based communication network can support communicationsessions between two or more participants. For example, the networkcould support a voice telephone call by transporting Internet Protocol(IP) packets between a calling party and a called party. The packetscontaining the voice information are typically routed between theparties through various network nodes in the packet network.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes a system and method for provisioning aconnection as a distributed digital cross-connect in a packet network.

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to provision apath associated with at least a portion of a packet network anddetermining whether a router is associated with the path in the packetnetwork. The method also includes provisioning a first connectionbetween a first gateway and a second gateway when the router is notassociated with the path. The method further includes provisioning asecond connection between the first gateway and the router and a thirdconnection between the router and the second gateway when the router isassociated with the path. In addition, the method includes at least oneof associating and disassociating a first endpoint of the first gatewayand a second endpoint of the second gateway with one or more of theconnections.

In another embodiment, a method includes detecting an addition of afirst gateway to a packet network. The method also includes establishinga first connection between the first gateway and a router when the firstgateway is of at least one gateway type. In addition, the methodincludes identifying a second gateway and establishing a secondconnection between the first gateway and the second gateway when thefirst gateway is of at least one other gateway type.

One or more technical features may be present according to variousembodiments of this disclosure. Particular embodiments of thisdisclosure may exhibit none, some, or all of the following featuresdepending on the implementation. For example, in one embodiment, asystem may establish a connection through a packet network. Asparticular examples, the system may establish a connection between anaccess gateway and a core gateway. The system could also establish afirst connection between an access gateway and a router and a secondconnection between the router and a core gateway. The system may furtherassociate endpoints at the access gateway and at the core gateway withthe connection or connections. In addition, the system can pre-establishconnections in the packet network when new gateways are added to thepacket network. In this way, the system can establish connectionsthrough a packet network more easily. This may reduce the workloadplaced on a network administrator or other personnel responsible formaintaining the network.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the, following figures, descriptions, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is nowmade to the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication system;

FIG. 2 illustrates another example communication system;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example access gateway in a communication system;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example core gateway in a communication system;

FIG. 5 illustrates one example of the connections created to support apath in a communication system;

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of the connections created to supporta path in a communication system;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example method for establishing a path in acommunication system; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method for pre-establishing connections ina communication system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication system 100. In theillustrated embodiment, system 100 includes clients 102 and a packetnetwork 104. Other embodiments of system 100 may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure.

In one aspect of operation, a network management system (NMS) 118manages the operation of network 104. In particular, network managementsystem 118 manages paths, such as voice or data paths, through network104 by provisioning connections between components of network 104. Asparticular examples, network management system 118 could establishconnections between an access gateway 106 and a core gateway 108.Network management system 118 could also establish a first connectionbetween an access gateway 106 and a router 110, 112 and a secondconnection between the router 110, 112 and a core gateway 108. Networkmanagement system 118 could further associate endpoints at both theaccess gateway 106 and at the core gateway 108 with the one or moreconnections, such as by associating ports of the gateways 106, 108 withthe connection. In addition, network management system 118 may modifyand/or disable the connection or connections in system 100. Whendisabling the connection or connections, network management system 118may further tear down the connection or connections. In this way,network management system 118 can provision paths through network 104with less interaction with a network administrator or other personnel,making it easier to establish the paths.

In the illustrated embodiment, clients 102 are coupled to network 104.In this document, the term “couple” refers to any direct or indirectphysical, logical, virtual, or other types of communication between twoor more components, whether or not those components are in physicalcontact with one another. Client 102 may include any communicationdevice or devices for generating and/or processing voice or other data.For example, client 102 could represent a user device such as a wirelinetelephone, a wireless telephone, a personal computer, or a personaldigital assistant. As particular examples, client 102 could represent avoice over packet client, such as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)client, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) client, or an InternationalTelecommunication Union—Telecommunications (ITU-T) H.323 client. Asanother example, client 102 could represent network equipment, such as awireless or cellular base station. Client 102 may include any hardware,software, firmware, or combination thereof for generating, storing,communicating, receiving, and/or processing voice or other data.

Network 104 facilitates communication between components coupled tonetwork 104. For example, network 104 may communicate packets containingvoice or other data between network addresses. In this document, theterm “packet” refers to IP packets, frame relay frames, AsynchronousTransfer Mode (ATM) cells, or any other suitable segments ofinformation. Network 104 may include one or more local area networks(LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs),all or a portion of a global network such as the Internet, or any othercommunication system or systems at one or more locations. Network 104may also operate according to any appropriate type of protocol orprotocols, such as Ethernet, IP, X.25, frame relay, or any other packetdata protocol. Network 104 may further support the conveyance ofnon-voice packets between clients 102 and/or other devices in system100.

In the illustrated example, network 104 includes access gateways 106 anda core gateway 108. Access gateways 106 facilitate access to network 104by clients 102. For example, access gateway 106 could receiveinformation from multiple clients 102, packetize and compress theinformation, and communicate the packets to core gateway 108. Accessgateway 106 may also receive packets over network 104, depacketize anddecompress information in the packets, and communicate the informationto clients 102. Access gateway 106 may include any hardware, software,firmware, or combination thereof for supporting the transport of voiceand other information over network 104. Access gateway 106 may representa switch, router, bridge, voice gateway, call manager, transceiver, hub,and/or any other type of device for conveying data packets. In oneembodiment, access gateway 106 includes a number of ports forcommunicating with clients 102.

Core gateway 108 is coupled to access gateways 106. Core gateway 108 mayfacilitate the communication of voice and other information between oneor more external networks, such as an external packet network 114 likethe Internet and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 116. Forexample, core gateway 108 could receive packets containing informationfrom multiple access gateways 106, depacketize and/or decompress theinformation, and communicate the information to packet network 114and/or PSTN 116. Core gateway 108 may also receive information frompacket network 114 or PSTN 116, compress and/or packetize theinformation, and communicate the packets to one or more access gateways106. Core gateway 108 may include any hardware, software, firmware, orcombination thereof for supporting the transport of voice and otherinformation over network 104. As particular examples, core gateway 108may represent a switch such as an ATM or frame relay switch, a router,or a voice gateway. In one embodiment, core gateway 108 includes anumber of ports for communicating with access gateways 106. Core gateway108 may have a higher port density than access gateways 106. Coregateway 108 could also have a lower port density than access gateways106.

In particular embodiments, core gateway 108 may include a router card110 and/or network 104 may include a router 112. Router card 110 androuter 112 may be generally referred to as routers 110, 112. Routers110, 112 may be useful, for example, for routing IP packets betweenaccess gateways 106 and core gateway 108. Routers 110, 112 may eachinclude any hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof forrouting packets. In other embodiments, routers 110, 112 need not be usedin network 104.

A network management system 118 facilitates the management of network104. For example, network management system 118 may establish a pathsuch as a voice or data path through at least a portion of network 104,modify the path, or disable the path. Network management system 118 mayinclude any hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof formanaging network 104. In the illustrated example, network managementsystem 118 includes at least one processor 120 and at least one memory122. Memory 122 could store instructions executed by processor 120 anddata processed by processor 120.

In the illustrated embodiment, network management system 118 has accessto a data store 124. Data store 124 stores and facilitates retrieval ofinformation used by network management system 118. For example, datastore 124 may store a network object model 126. Network object model 126identifies the various components of network 104, such as accessgateways 106, core gateway 108, and router 110. Network object model 126may also store information identifying the various sub-components of theidentified network components. For example, network object model 126could identify the ports available for use in access gateways 106 andcore gateway 108. Data store 124 could also store informationidentifying the various connections in system 100, such as byidentifying the various paths provisioned in system 100. Data store 124may include any hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereofoperable to store and facilitate retrieval of information. Also, datastore 124 may use any of a variety of data structures, arrangements, andcompilations to store and facilitate retrieval of information.

To facilitate management of network 104 by network management system118, a configuration engine 128 and a WAN manager 130 may be provided innetwork 104. Configuration engine 128 receives instructions from networkmanagement system 118, where the instructions involve the configurationof an access gateway 106 or a router card 110. Configuration engine 128uses the instruction to configure the access gateway 106 or router card110 as requested. Similarly, WAN manager 130 receives instructions fromnetwork management system 118, where the instructions involve theconfiguration of a core gateway 108. WAN manager 130 uses theinstruction to configure the core gateway 108 as requested. In this way,management of network 104 can be distributed among multiple componentsof system 100. In another embodiment, management of network 104 can becentralized in a single component such as network management system 118,and the functions of configuration engine 128 and WAN manager 130 couldbe incorporated into network management system 118.

In one aspect of operation, network management system 118 may receive arequest to provision a path in at least a portion of network 104.Network management system 118 may then provision one or more circuits orother connections between at least one access gateway 106, at least onecore gateway 108, and/or at least one router 110, 112. As particularexamples, network management system 118 may provision a permanentvirtual circuit between an access gateway 106 and core gateway 108.Network management system 118 may also provision a first layer 2permanent virtual circuit and a layer 3 route between an access gateway106 and a router 110 and a second layer 2 permanent virtual circuit anda layer 3 route between the router 110 and core gateway 108. The phrases“layer 2” and “layer 3” refer to various layers in the Open SystemInterconnection (OSI) networking framework. Network management system118 may further associate endpoints, such as ports, of the accessgateway 106 and the core gateway 108 with the permanent virtual circuitor circuits. In this way, network management system 118 can establishpaths in system 100 as digital cross-connects, where network managementsystem 118 cross-connects two endpoints to create a path. Networkmanagement system 118 can create, modify, or disable the cross-connectswithout requiring a network administrator or other personnel to know thespecifics of how the paths are provisioned. Although network managementsystem 118 may be described in this document as provisioning a pathbetween an access gateway 106 and a core gateway 108, network managementsystem 118 may provision any suitable path, such as a path between twoaccess gateways 106 through core gateway 108.

In a particular embodiment, network management system 118 uses objectmodel 126 to identify which components of network 104 to use inprovisioning a path through network 104. In this particular embodiment,network management system 118 also uses object model 126 to issueinstructions to configuration engine 128 and WAN manager 130. Theseinstructions cause configuration engine 128 and WAN manager 130 toprovision circuits through network 104 and to associate ports in accessgateway 106 and core gateway 108 with the provisioned circuits.

In another aspect of operation, network management system 118 canpre-establish connections in network 104 when new gateways 106, 108 areadded to network 104. For example, when a new core gateway 108 is addedto network 104, network management system 118 could establish apermanent virtual circuit between the new core gateway 108 and a router110, 112. When a new access gateway 106 is added to network 104, networkmanagement system 118 could identify the core gateway 108 that servesthe new access gateway 106. Network management system 118 may thenestablish a permanent virtual circuit between the new access gateway 106and the identified core gateway 108. In this way, future requests toestablish paths involving the new gateways 106,108 may be completed morequickly.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a communication system 100,various changes may be made to FIG. 1. For example, the network 104 inFIG. 1 is for illustration only. Networks having other or additionalcomponents in other arrangements could be used in system 100. As aparticular example, network 104 could include multiple core gateways 108that are “daisy-chained” together, such as where two core gateways 108communicate over packet network 114. Also, network 104 could include anynumber of access gateways 106 and core gateways 108. Further, while FIG.1 illustrates core gateway 108 communicating with both packet network114 and PSTN 116, core gateway 108 could communicate with only one ofthese networks and/or additional networks. In addition, while network104 is shown as including a WAN manager 130, network 104 could includeany other suitable type of manager.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example communication system 200. In theillustrated embodiment, system 200 includes base stations 202 and apacket network 204. Other embodiments of system 200 may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure.

In the illustrated example, base station 202 communicates with one ormore wireless devices 232. Wireless device 232 may include any suitablecommunication device operable to communicate over a wireless interface.Wireless devices 232 may include, for example, wireless telephones,portable computers, and personal digital assistants. Base station 202may include any hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof forcommunicating with one or more wireless devices 232. Base station 232could, for example, include one or more transmitters, receivers, and/ortransceivers.

Cell site access gateways (CSAGs) 206 are coupled to a base station 202and to a mobile telephony switching office access gateway (MAG) 208.CSAG 206 acts as an access gateway to provide access to network 204 forbase station 202. For example, CSAG 206 could receive voice and othertraffic from base station 202, packetize the traffic, and communicatethe traffic to MAG 208. CSAG 206 could also receive packets containingtraffic from MAG 208, depacketize the traffic, and communicate thetraffic to base station 202. In one embodiment, CSAG 206 is co-locatedwith a base station 202 in system 200. In particular embodiments, CSAG206 could use one or more voice codecs to compress and decompress voiceinformation, such as the ITU-T G.726, G.729a, and G.729b codecs. Oneexample of a CSAG 206 is shown in FIG. 3, which is described below.

MAG 208 is coupled to CSAG 206 and to mobile telephony switching office(MTSO) equipment 234. MTSO 234 provides access to one or more externalnetworks, such as packet network 214 and PSTN 216. MTSO 234 could, forexample, include a class 4 or class 5 switch for handling voice trafficand/or a frame relay switch and an ATM switch for handling data traffic.MAG 208 acts as a core gateway in network 204 by facilitating access toother CSAGs 206 and to the external networks through MTSO 234. Forexample, MAG 208 could receive traffic from one or more CSAGs 206. MAG208 may also separate voice traffic and data traffic, route the datatraffic to the frame relay switch or ATM switch of MTSO 234, and routethe voice traffic to the class 4 switch or class 5 switch of MTSO 234.MAG 208 could further route traffic between CSAGs 206. One example of aMAG 208 is shown in FIG. 4, which is described below. In particularembodiments, MAG 208 could use one or more voice codecs to process voiceinformation coming from and/or going to PSTN 216, such as the ITU-TG.726, G.729a, and G.729b codecs.

One or more router cards 210 and/or routers 212, referred tocollectively as routers 210, 212, could be used in network 204. Routers210, 212 could, for example, route IP packets in system 100. In otherembodiments, routers 210, 212 need not be used in network 204.

A network management system 218 facilitates the management of network204. For example, network management system 218 may provision a path inat least a portion of network 204. Network management system 218 couldhave access to a data store 224, which may store a network object model226 used to provision the paths in network 204. A configuration engine228 and a WAN manager 230 may facilitate management of CSAGs 206, MAGs208, and routers 210, 212 in network 204.

In one aspect of operation, network management system 218 receives arequest to provision a path in at least a portion of network 204.Network management system 218 provisions one or more permanent virtualcircuits in network 204. If a router 210 needs to participate in thepath, a first layer 2 permanent virtual circuit and a layer 3 route areprovisioned between a CSAG 206 and a router 210. A second layer 2permanent virtual circuit and layer 3 route are provisioned between therouter 210 and MAG 208. If no router 210, 212 is needed, a permanentvirtual circuit can be provisioned between a CSAG 206 and a MAG 208.Network management system 218 may also associate endpoints at CSAG 206and MAG 208 with the one or more permanent virtual circuits. Theendpoints could, for example, represent a port in

CSAG 206 used by a particular base station 202 and a port in MAG 208used to communicate with MTSO 234.

In another aspect of operation, network management system 218pre-establishes connections in network 204 when a new CSAG 206 or MAG208 is added to network 204. For example, when a new MAG 208 is added tonetwork 204, network management system 218 could establish a permanentvirtual circuit between the new MAG 208 and a router 210, 212. When anew CSAG 206 is added to network 204, network management system 218could establish a permanent virtual circuit between the new CSAG 206 anda MAG 208. These permanent virtual circuits can then be used toestablish the paths in network 204.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a communication system200, various changes may be made to FIG. 2. For example, networks 204having other or additional components in other arrangements could beused in system 200. Also, network 204 could include any number of CSAGs206 and MAGs 208. Further, while FIG. 2 illustrates MTSO 234communicating with both packet network 214 and PSTN 216, MTSO 234 couldcommunicate with only one of these networks and/or additional networks.Beyond that, while network 204 is shown as including a WAN manager 230,network 204 could include any other suitable type of manager. Inaddition, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two possible operational environmentsfor the functionality described with respect to network managementsystems 118, 218. The same or similar functionality could also be usedin any other operational environment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example access gateway in a communication system.In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates an example CSAG 206 of FIG. 2. In theillustrated embodiment, CSAG 206 includes base station ports 302, MAGports 304, a controller 306, and a memory 308.

Base station ports 302 transmit and receive voice and data traffic toand from base stations 202. Base station ports 302 may, for example,communicate with base stations 202 over links 310, which may representany suitable links coupling CSAG 206 and base stations 202. Links 310could, for example, represent T1 lines supporting multiple DS0s. In aparticular embodiment, base station ports 302 may receive Time DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA) 1G traffic, TDMA 2G traffic, Global System forMobile communication (GSM) traffic, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD)traffic, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) traffic, andclear channel traffic. The clear channel traffic could incorporate anyof the other types of traffic. Base station port 302 may include anysuitable structure or structures for facilitating communication with abase station 202.

MAG ports 304 facilitate communication with one or more MAGs 208 innetwork 204. For example, MAG ports 304 may transmit and receive voiceand data traffic over one or more permanent virtual circuits 312. In oneembodiment, MAG ports 304 may transmit and receive voice and datatraffic over one or more ATM Adaptation Layer-2 (AAL2) permanent virtualcircuits 312 and/or one or more ATM Adaptation Layer-5 (AAL5) permanentvirtual circuits 312. In a particular embodiment, TDMA 1G, TDMA 2G, andGSM traffic is sent over AAL2 or AAL5 permanent virtual circuits 312,and CDPD and UMTS traffic is sent over AAL5 permanent virtual circuits312. MAG port 304 may include any suitable structure or structures forfacilitating communication with a MAG 304.

Controller 306 is coupled to base station ports 302 and MAG ports 304.Controller 306 facilitates communication between base station ports 302and MAG ports 304, which helps to facilitate communication between basestations 202 and MAGs 208. For example, controller 306 may receive voiceand data traffic over base station ports 302, packetize the traffic, andcommunicate the packets to MAG ports 304. Controller 306 could alsoreceive traffic in packets from MAG ports 304, depacketize the traffic,and communicate the traffic to base station ports 302. Controller 306could further consolidate traffic from base station 202, such as bycompressing voice traffic using one or more codecs. In addition,controller 306 can associate a base station port 302 with a MAG port304, such that traffic is exchanged between the base station port 302and the MAG port 304. In this way, controller 306 cross-connects a basestation port 302 and a MAG port 304. Controller 306 could represent anysuitable processing device or devices, such as one or more digitalsignal processors (DSPs).

Memory 308 is coupled to controller 306. Memory 308 may store andfacilitate retrieval of information used by controller 306. For example,memory 308 may store information identifying a mapping or cross-connectbetween a base station port 302 and a MAG port 304. Memory 308 mayinclude any suitable volatile or non-volatile storage and retrievaldevice or devices.

Although FIG. 3 illustrates one example of an access gateway in acommunication system, various changes may be made to FIG. 3. Forexample, CSAG 206 has been simplified for ease of illustration andexplanation and may include other or additional components. Also, CSAG206 could include any suitable number of ports 302, 304. In addition,other embodiments of an access gateway can be used in systems 100, 200without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example core gateway in a communication system. Inparticular, FIG. 4 illustrates an example MAG 208 of FIG. 2. In theillustrated embodiment, MAG 208 includes CSAG station ports 402, MTSOports 404, a router card/interface 406, a controller 408, and a memory410.

CSAG ports 402 transmit and receive voice and data traffic to and fromCSAGs 206. CSAG ports 402 may, for example, transmit and receive packetscontaining voice and data traffic coming from or going to base stations202. CSAG ports 402 may communicate with CSAGs 206 using one or morepermanent virtual circuits 312, such as AAL2 and/or AAL5 permanentvirtual circuits. CSAG port 402 may include any suitable structure orstructures for facilitating communication with a CSAG 206.

MTSO ports 404 transmit and receive voice and data traffic to and fromMTSO 234. For example, MTSO ports 404 could include voice interworkingservice modules (VISMs) 412 that facilitate communication with a class 4switch, a class 5 switch, or other voice equipment in MTSO 234. MTSOports 404 could also include frame relay service modules (FRSM)/ATMuniversal service modules (AUSM) 414 that facilitate communication witha frame relay switch, an ATM switch, or other data equipment in MTSO234. In one embodiment, MTSO ports 404 communicate with MTSO 234 usingone or more links 416, such as one or more T1 lines supporting multipleDS0s. MTSO port 404 may include any suitable structure or structures forfacilitating communication with MTSO 234.

Router card/interface 406 represents a router card 210 and/or aninterface to an external router 212. Router card/interface 406 allowstraffic to be transported between CSAG 206 and MAG 208 using IP packets.In this embodiment, router card/interface 406 and/or the external router212 terminates the permanent virtual circuit 312 used to transport theIP packets, and router card/interface 406 and/or the external router 212routes the IP packets to the appropriate MTSO port 404.

Controller 408 is coupled to CSAG ports 402, MTSO ports 404, and routercard/interface 406. Controller 408 facilitates communication betweenCSAG ports 402, MTSO ports 404, and router card/interface 406, whichhelps to facilitate communication between CSAGs 206 and MTSO 234. Forexample, controller 408 may receive packets containing voice and datatraffic over CSAG ports 402, depacketize the traffic, send the voicetraffic to VISMs 412, and send the data traffic to AUSM/FRSM 414.Controller 408 could also associate one or more CSAG ports 402 with oneor mote MTSO ports 404, thereby cross-connecting the CSAG ports 402 andthe MTSO ports 404. Controller 408 could further associate one or moreCSAG ports 402 with router card/interface 406 and associate routercard/interface 406 with one or mote MTSO ports 404, therebycross-connecting the CSAG ports 402 and the MTSO ports 404 throughrouter card/interface 406. Controller 408 could represent any suitableprocessing device or devices, such as one or more DSPs.

Memory 410 is coupled to controller 408. Memory 410 may store andfacilitate retrieval of information used by controller 408. For example,memory 410 may store information identifying a mapping between CSAGports 402, MTSO ports 404, and/or router card/interface 406. Memory 410may include any suitable volatile or non-volatile storage and retrievaldevice or devices.

Although FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a core gateway in acommunication system, various changes may be made to FIG. 4. Forexample, MAG 208 has been simplified for ease of illustration andexplanation and may include other or additional components. Also, MAG208 could include any suitable number of ports 402, 404. In addition,other embodiments of a core gateway can be used in systems 100, 200without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates one example of the connections 500 created to supporta path in a communication system. In particular, FIG. 5 illustrates theconnections 500 created to establish a path between a CSAG 206 and a MAG208 using an AAL2 permanent virtual circuit. While the followingdescription describes network management system 218 establishing a pathin network 204, the same paths may be involved when a path is modifiedor disabled in network 204. Also, the functions attributed to networkmanagement system 218 could be performed in a distributed manner bynetwork management system 218, configuration engine 228, WAN manager230, MAG 208, and/or CSAG 206.

In one embodiment, network management system 218 may provision a path innetwork 204 between CSAG 206 and MAG 208 in response to a user request.For example, a user may identify a source gateway, such as a CSAG 206,and a target gateway, such as a MAG 208. The user may also identify theendpoints to be used, such as one or more ports 302 of CSAG 206 and oneor more ports 404 of MAG 208. In one embodiment, the ports 302, 404available for use could be displayed to the user, allowing the user toselect which ports to use. In a particular embodiment, ports 302, 404may be able to support only a subset of the services available to theuser, such as when a base station 202 connected to a particular port 302can only support certain voice codecs. In this particular embodiment,the ports 302, 404 displayed to the user as being available for usecould be limited to ports that support the service requested by theuser.

In response to the request, network management system 218 determineswhether an AAL2 permanent virtual circuit 502 exists between the sourceCSAG 206 and the target MAG 208. The permanent virtual circuit 502 couldhave been established previously when the CSAG 206 and/or MAG 208 wasadded to network 204. If not, network management system 218 creates theAAL2 permanent virtual circuit 502. As shown in FIG. 5, AAL2 permanentvirtual circuit 502 includes two segments 504 a and 504 b. One segment504 a lies between the termination of ATM at a MAG port 304 of CSAG 206and the termination of ATM at a CSAG port 402 of MAG 208. Anothersegment 504 b lies between the termination of ATM at the CSAG port 402of MAG 208 and the termination of ATM at a VISM 412 of MAG 208.

A channel identifier (CID) 506 is established on top of the AAL2permanent virtual circuit 502. As examples, a user may supply or networkmanagement system 218 may generate a CD value for the permanent virtualcircuit 502. In one embodiment, network management system 218 uses a TDMendpoint number, such as a number associated with VISM 412, to generatethe CD value. In another embodiment, network management system 218 couldadd an offset to the TDM endpoint number and use the result to generatethe CID value. In a particular embodiment, the TDM endpoint number usedby network management system 218 is associated with the gateway 206, 208having the higher port density. The CID value is then mapped to a DS0 ofVISM 412, which is represented as mapping 508. The same CID value isalso mapped to a DS0 of a base station port 202, which is represented asmapping 510. This establishes a cross-connect between the DS0 of basestation port 202 and the DS0 of VISM 412.

Although FIG. 5 illustrates one example of the connections 500 createdto support a path in a communication system, various changes may be madeto FIG. 5. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates one of many possible examplesof the connections that can be used to establish a path in acommunication system. Any other suitable connections can be used insystems 100, 200.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of the connections 600 created tosupport a path in a communication system. In particular, FIG. 6illustrates the connections 600 created to establish a path between aCSAG 206 and a MAG 208 using AAL5 permanent virtual circuits. While thefollowing description describes network management system 218establishing a path in network 204, the same paths may be involved whena path is modified or disabled in network 204. Also, the functionsattributed to network management system 218 could be performed in adistributed manner by network management system 218, configurationengine 228, WAN manager 230, MAG 208, and/or CSAG 206.

To establish the path, network management system 218 determines whetheran AAL5 permanent virtual circuit 602 exists between the CSAG 206 and arouter card 650 of MAG 208. Router card 650 could correspond to routercard 210 of FIG. 2. The permanent virtual circuit 602 could have beenestablished previously when the CSAG 206 and/or MAG 208 was added tonetwork 204. If not, network management system 218 creates the AAL5permanent virtual circuit 602. The AAL5 permanent virtual circuit 602includes two segments 604 a and 604 b. One segment 604 a lies betweenthe termination of ATM at a MAG port 304 of CSAG 206 and the terminationof ATM at a CSAG port 402 of MAG 208. Another segment 604 b lies betweenthe termination of ATM at the CSAG port 402 of MAG 208 and thetermination of ATM at the router card 650 of MAG 208.

In a particular embodiment, the AAL5 permanent virtual circuit 602carries traffic between CSAG 206 and MAG 208 in IP packets for all ofthe DS0s established at CSAG 206. In this way, only one AAL5 permanentvirtual circuit 602 needs to be established between CSAG 206 and MAG208. Router card 650 strips the IP packets from the ATM/AAL5transmission medium, inspects the IP packets, and routes the IP packetsto one or more VISMs 412 over one or more second AAL5 permanent virtualcircuits 606. In a particular embodiment, one second AAL5 permanentvirtual circuit 606 is established between router card 650 and each VISM412.

In one embodiment, traffic is transported over the AAL5 permanentvirtual circuits 602, 606 using a Realtime Transfer Protocol (RTP)connection 608. The DS0s in the CSAG 206 and MAG 208 are associated withthe RTP connection 608 using RTP port numbers. In one embodiment,network management system 218 generates an RTP port number for each VISM412. In a particular embodiment, network management system 218 uses aTDM endpoint number and adds an offset value to the endpoint number. Theresulting RTP port value is used to associate a VISM 412 with the RTPconnection 608 (shown as mapping 610), thereby associating the VISM 412with AAL5 permanent virtual circuits 602, 606. In a similar manner, thesame RTP port value is used to associate a DS0 of a base station port302 with the RTP connection 608 (shown as mapping 612), therebyassociating the base station port 302 with AAL5 permanent virtualcircuits 602, 606. Information arriving over a particular RTP port inCSAG 206 is transported to MAG 208 at output over the associated VISM412 in MAG 208. Similarly, information arriving over a particular RTPport in MAG 208 is transported to CSAG 206 at output over the associatedbase station port 202 in CSAG 206.

Although FIG. 6 illustrates another example of the connections 600created to support a path in a communication system, various changes maybe made to FIG. 6. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates another of manypossible examples of the connections that can be used to establish apath in a communication system. Any other suitable connections can beused. Also, while FIG. 6 illustrates the use of a MAG 208 with a routercard 650, the same or similar connections can be used when an externalrouter, such as router 212, is used.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example method 700 for provisioning a path in acommunication system. While method 700 may be described with respect tosystem 100 of FIG. 1 or system 200 of FIG. 2, method 700 could also beused by any other system. Also, while method 700 may be described asestablishing a path in system 100 or system 200, the same or similarmethod could be used to modify or disable a path. In addition, whileFIG. 7 is described with respect to a network management system 118,218, the steps illustrated in method 700 could be distributed among andexecuted by network management system 118, 218, configuration engine128, 228, WAN manager 130, 230, core gateway 108 or MAG 208, and/oraccess gateway 106 or CSAG 206.

A network management system receives a request to establish a path in anetwork at step 702. This may include, for example, a user submitting arequest to network management system 118, 218. The request may includethe identity of a source gateway, such as access gateway 106 or CSAG206. The request may also include the identity of a target gateway, suchas core gateway 108 or MAG 208. The request may further identify theendpoints for the path, such as one or more base station ports 302 ofCSAG 206 and one or more MTSO ports 404 of MAG 208. In addition, therequest could identify the type of service requested, such as TDMA 1G,TDMA 2G, GSM, CDPD, and UMTS services.

The network management system determines whether the path requires theuse of a router at step 704. This may include, for example, networkmanagement system 118, 218 determining whether an AAL2 or an AAL5permanent virtual circuit is needed for the path. The type of permanentvirtual circuit may depend, for example, on the type of servicerequested at step 702. As particular examples, TDMA 1G, TDMA 2G, and GSMservices may use AAL2 or AAL5 permanent virtual circuits, and CDPD andUMTS traffic may use AAL5 permanent virtual circuits. In this example,AAL2 permanent virtual circuits may not require the use of a router,while AAL5 permanent virtual circuits may require the use of a router.

If no router is needed, the network management system determines whethera suitable connection has previously been established at step 706. Thismay include, for example, network management system 118, 218 determiningwhether an AAL2 permanent virtual circuit exists between the accessgateway and the core gateway. If a connection does not exist, thenetwork management system establishes a connection between the accessgateway and the core gateway at step 708. This may include, for example,network management system 118, 218 establishing an AAL2 permanentvirtual circuit between access gateway 106 or CSAG 206 and core gateway108 or MAG 208. This may also include network management system 118, 218establishing two AAL2 segments 504.

If a router is needed, the network management system again determineswhether a suitable connection has previously been established at step710. This may include, for example, network management system 118, 218determining whether two AAL5 permanent virtual circuits exist betweenthe access gateway, a router, and the core gateway. If not, the networkmanagement system establishes a first connection between the accessgateway and a router at step 712. This may include, for example, networkmanagement system 118, 218 establishing an AAL5 permanent virtualcircuit between access gateway 106 or CSAG 206 and router card 110, 210or router 112, 212. This may also include network management system 118,218 establishing two AAL5 segments 604. The network management systemestablishes a second connection between the router and the core gatewayat step 714. This may include, for example, network management system118, 218 establishing an AAL5 permanent virtual circuit between routercard 110, 210 or router 112, 212 and core gateway 108 or MAG 208. Thismay also include network management system 118, 218 establishing a routethat associates RTP terminations on the access gateway 106 or CSAG 206with RTP terminations of the core gateway 108 or MAG 208.

The network management system associates an endpoint at the core gatewaywith the connection or connections at step 716. This may include, forexample, network management system 118, 218 generating a CID value or anRTP port value. This may also include the core gateway using the CIDvalue or RTP port value to associate a port of the core gateway, such asa MTSO port 404 of MAG 208, with the established permanent virtualcircuit or circuits.

The network management system associates an endpoint at the accessgateway with the connection or connections at step 718. This mayinclude, for example, the access gateway using the same CID value or thesame RTP port value to associate a port of the access gateway, such as abase station port 302 of CSAG 206, with the established permanentvirtual circuit or circuits.

At this point, the port of the access gateway and the port of the coregateway have an established path between them. Voice traffic can thenpass between the ports and travel over network 104, 204. A user need nothave specific knowledge of how the path was established.

Although FIG. 7 illustrates one example of a method 700 for establishinga path in a communication system, various changes may be made to FIG. 7.For example, while method 700 describes associating the endpoint at thecore gateway before associating the endpoint at the access gateway, theendpoint at the access gateway could be associated first. This mayoccur, for example, when the access gateway has a higher port densitythan the core gateway. Also, the same method could be used to modify ordisable a path. For example, to modify or disable a path, the networkmanagement system could modify or tear down connections at steps 708,712, 714 and disassociate the endpoints with the connections at steps716, 718.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method 800 for pre-establishingconnections in a communication system. While method 800 may be describedwith respect to system 100 of FIG. 1 or system 200 of FIG. 2, method 800could also be used by any other system. Also, while FIG. 8 is describedwith respect to network management system 118, 218, the stepsillustrated in method 800 could be distributed among and executed bynetwork management system 118, 218, configuration engine 128, 228, WANmanager 130, 230, core gateway 108 or MAG 208, and/or access gateway 106or CSAG 206.

A network management system detects the addition of a new core gatewayin a network at step 802. This may include, for example, a userinforming network management system 118, 218 of the presence of a newcore gateway 108 or MAG 208. This may also include the new core gateway108 or MAG 208 announcing itself when installed in network 104, 204 andnetwork management system 118, 218 detecting the announcement. Thenetwork management system 118, 218 may then communicate with the newgateway to retrieve information and generate an object representing thenew gateway in object model 126, 226.

The network management system establishes a connection between the newcore gateway and a router at step 804. This may include, for example,network management system 118, 218 establishing an AAL5 permanentvirtual circuit between a router and the new core gateway 108 or MAG208. The network management system configures the router associated withthe new core gateway with a route to the network address of the new coregateway at step 806. This may include, for example, network managementsystem 118, 218 updating router 112, 212 of the network addressassociated with the new core gateway 108 or MAG 208. In this way, router112, 212 and the new core gateway can communicate and exchange IPpackets.

The network management system detects the addition of a new accessgateway in the network at step 808. This may include, for example, auser informing network management system 118, 218 of the presence of anew access gateway 106 or CSAG 206 or the new access gateway announcingits presence.

The network management system identifies a core gateway associated withthe new access gateway at step 810. This may include, for example, auser identifying the core gateway 108 or MAG 208 to be used with the newaccess gateway. The network management system establishes one or moreconnections between the new access gateway and the identified coregateway at step 812. This may include, for example, network managementsystem 118, 218 establishing one or more AAL2 and/or AAL5 permanentvirtual circuits between the new access gateway 106 or CSAG 206 and theidentified core gateway. The network management system configures arouter associated with the identified core gateway with a route to thenetwork address of the new access gateway at step 814. The router may bethe same router updated at step 806 or a different router. This mayinclude, for example, network management system 118, 218 updating therouter with a route to the network address associated with the newaccess gateway 106 or CSAG 206. In this way, the router can communicatewith and exchange packets with the new access gateway.

While this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodimentsand generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of theembodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does notdefine or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, andalterations are also possible without departing from the spirit andscope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.

1-59. (canceled)
 60. A computerized method, comprising: receiving arequest to provision a path for a requested wireless communicationservice, the path associated with at least a portion of a packetnetwork; determining whether a router is required by a type of virtualcircuit used by the requested wireless communication service; if therouter is not required, provisioning a first connection between a firstgateway and a second gateway; if the router is required, provisioning asecond connection between the first gateway and the router, andprovisioning a third connection between the router and the secondgateway; at least one of associating and disassociating a first endpointof the first gateway and a second endpoint of the second gateway withone or more of the connections; and storing, in a computer readablemedium, an object model comprising at least a portion of the path. 61.The method of claim 60, wherein associating the first and secondendpoints with one or more of the connections comprises: generating achannel identifier or a Realtime Transfer Protocol (RTP) port valueassociated with the one or more connections; mapping the channelidentifier or RTP port value to a first Digital Signal level 0 (DS0)connection at the first gateway; and mapping the channel identifier orRTP port value to a second DS0 connection at the second gateway.
 62. Themethod of claim 60, wherein associating the first and second endpointswith one or more of the connections comprises: generating an identifierassociated with the one or more connections; mapping the identifier to afirst connection at the first gateway; and mapping the identifier to asecond connection at the second gateway.
 63. At least one computerreadable storage medium encoded with logic that is operable whenexecuted to: receive a request to provision a path for a requestedwireless communication service, the path associated with at least aportion of a packet network; determine whether a router is required by atype of virtual circuit used by the requested wireless communicationservice; if the router is not required, provision a first connectionbetween a first gateway and a second gateway; if the router is required,provision a second connection between the first gateway and the router,and provisioning a third connection between the router and the secondgateway; and at least one of associate and disassociate a first endpointof the first gateway and a second endpoint of the second gateway withone or more of the connections.
 64. The computer readable storage mediumof claim 63, wherein the logic is operable to determine whether therouter is required by identifying one of a plurality of connection typesassociated with the path, at least one of the connection types involvingthe router and at least one other of the connection types not involvingthe router.
 65. The computer readable storage medium of claim 63,wherein the logic is operable to provision the first connection by:provisioning a first connection segment between a first port of thefirst gateway and a second port of the second gateway; and provisioninga second connection segment between the second port of the secondgateway and a third port of the second gateway.
 66. The computerreadable storage medium of claim 63, wherein the logic is operable toprovision the second and third connections by: provisioning a firstconnection segment between a first port of the first gateway and asecond port of the second gateway; provisioning a second connectionsegment between the second port of the second gateway and the router;and provisioning the second connection between the router and a thirdport of the second gateway.
 67. The computer readable storage medium ofclaim 63, wherein the logic is operable to associate the first andsecond endpoints with one or more of the connections by generating oneof a channel identifier or a Realtime Transfer Protocol (RTP) portvalue, the first gateway operable to map the channel identifier or RTPport value to a first Digital Signal level 0 (DS0) connection at thefirst gateway, and the second gateway operable to map the channelidentifier or RTP port value to a second DS0 connection at the secondgateway.
 68. The computer readable storage medium of claim 63, whereinthe logic is further operable to store an object model comprising atleast a portion of the path.
 69. The computer readable storage medium ofclaim 63, wherein the logic is operable to provision the one or moreconnections by disabling the one or more connections and tearing downthe one or more connections.
 70. The computer readable storage medium ofclaim 63, wherein the logic is operable to associate the first andsecond endpoints with one or more of the connections by generating anidentifier, the first gateway operable to map the identifier to a firstconnection at the first gateway, and the second gateway operable to mapthe identifier to a second connection at the second gateway.
 71. Asystem, comprising: a memory operable to store an object model, theobject model identifying a plurality of gateways in a packet network;and one or more processors collectively operable to: receive a requestto provision a path for a requested wireless communication service, thepath associated with at least a portion of the packet network; determinewhether a router is required by a type of virtual circuit used by therequested wireless communication service; if the router is not required,provision a first connection between a first of the gateways and asecond of the gateways; if the router is required, provision a secondconnection between the first gateway and the router, and provision athird connection between the router and the second gateway; and at leastone of associate and disassociate a first endpoint of the first gatewayand a second endpoint of the second gateway with one or more of theconnections.
 72. The system of claim 71, wherein the one or moreprocessors are collectively operable to determine whether the router isrequired by identifying one of a plurality of connection typesassociated with the path, at least one of the connection types involvingthe router and at least one other of the connection types not involvingthe router.
 73. The system of claim 71, wherein the one or moreprocessors are collectively operable to provision the first connectionby: provisioning a first connection segment between a first port of thefirst gateway and a second port of the second gateway; and provisioninga second connection segment between the second port of the secondgateway and a third port of the second gateway.
 74. The system of claim71, wherein the one or more processors are collectively operable toprovision the second and third connections by: provisioning a firstconnection segment between a first port of the first gateway and asecond port of the second gateway; provisioning a second connectionsegment between the second port of the second gateway and the router;and provisioning the second connection between the router and a thirdport of the second gateway.
 75. The system of claim 71, wherein the oneor more processors are collectively operable to associate the first andsecond endpoints with one or more of the connections by generating achannel identifier, the first gateway operable to map the channelidentifier to a first Digital Signal level 0 (DS0) connection at thefirst gateway, and the second gateway operable to map the channelidentifier to a second DS0 connection at the second gateway.
 76. Thesystem of claim 71, wherein the one or more processors are collectivelyoperable to associate the first and second endpoints with one or more ofthe connections by generating one of a channel identifier or a RealtimeTransfer Protocol (RTP) port value, the first gateway operable to mapthe channel identifier or RTP port value to a first Digital Signal level0 (DS0) connection at the first gateway, and the second gateway operableto map the channel identifier or RTP port value to a second DS0connection at the second gateway.
 77. The system of claim 71, whereinthe logic is further operable to store an object model comprising atleast a portion of the path.
 78. The system of claim 71, wherein the oneor more processors are collectively operable to provision the one ormore connections by disabling the one or more connections and tearingdown the one or more connections.
 79. The system of claim 71, whereinthe one or more processors are collectively operable to associate thefirst and second endpoints with one or more of the connections bygenerating an identifier, the first gateway operable to map theidentifier to a first connection at the first gateway, and the secondgateway operable to map the identifier to a second connection at thesecond gateway.